DG Innovate’s quest to develop electric vehicle (EV) drive systems that set new standards for power density, performance and reliability has been significantly advanced by the introduction of a novel cooling system. This facilitates efficient transfer and removal of heat from key drive components by immersing them in an oil with outstanding thermal and dielectric properties.
If high power densities combined with reliable operation are to be attained in EV drive systems, efficient and dependable cooling is essential. DGI provides this by immersing in oil not only the motor coils but also the power semiconductors used to control the motor. The oil is circulated continuously, and a key feature of the new cooling system is that the flow rate of the oil is dynamically controlled in real-time, ensuring optimum heat transfer in all operating conditions.
To achieve this, the oil flow rate is monitored along with the inlet and outlet temperatures of the motor and electronics chambers. The flow rate is dynamically adjusted to optimise cooling performance, taking into account the rate of change of temperature, the absolute temperature, the thermal capacity of the oil, and the efficiency of the radiator in dissipating heat to the atmosphere.
DG Innovate plc (LON:DGI) is an advanced research and development company pioneering sustainable and environmentally considerate improvements to electric mobility and storage, using abundant materials and the best engineering and scientific practices. Deregallera is a subsidiary of DG Innovate.
